Advanced Baseball

East Bay Youth Athletics enters our 2nd season of the Cal Ripken Advanced Baseball Program. The Advanced Baseball Program provides an opportunity for players wishing to receive focused instruction, while competing against top level competition, the opportunity to do so within the Advanced Baseball Program. The AB Program competes in the Cal Ripken West Florida Advanced Baseball League in a league play format during the Fall and Spring seasons. See below for more information.

EBYA Advanced Baseball FAQs

Q. What is Advanced Baseball?A. The Advanced Baseball program exists as an extension of and to complement therecreational baseball program. The advanced baseball program exists to provide an “advanced”player that has a higher skill level and has a passion for playing an opportunity to compete at ahigher level. This will be accomplished through advanced level instruction and more advancedcompetition.

Q. Is Advanced Baseball the same as travel baseball?A. No, Advanced Baseball is only for Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth players. The Advanced Baseballprogram only competes against other Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth leagues and does not compete intravel baseball tournaments.

Q. What is the purpose of Advanced Baseball?A. The Advanced Baseball program will focus on developing players by reinforcing properbaseball fundamentals, teaching advanced concepts appropriate to each individual age groupand by offering advanced level competition. EBYA's Advanced Baseball program will place afocus on practice and development.

Q. If my child makes the AB team will they also automatically make the all star team?A. No, making an Advanced Baseball team does not guarantee your child will make an all starteam.

Q. How long is the AB season?A. The fall season will be approximately 8 weeks and approximately 6 games. The Fall seasonwill begin mid to late September and finish in mid November. The spring season will beapproximately 12 weeks and 10-15 games. Spring will begin in mid February and finish by thebeginning of May.

Q. How often do AB teams play?A. The Advanced Baseball teams will play 1-2 times per month in a double header or three-wayformat so usually no more than 4-6 games in a month. There will be one tournament eachseason (usually at the end of the season) in addition to the regular schedule.

Q. When do the AB teams play?A.AB games will usually be played on Sundays with the exception being the end of season tournament. The Advanced Baseball program has been very successful. Several parks have joined and will host tournaments. It has become impossible to host all games at the same location. This may be an inconvenience to families with multiple kids playing in the Advanced Baseball Program.

Q. How often do the AB teams practice?A. AB teams will have one field practices during the week and one cage practice per week.Additional practices may be scheduled at the Manager’s discretion.

Q. How much does it cost to play Advanced Baseball?A. Fees for the current year are TBD, plus the cost ofbuying a uniform. Fees are outlined below:

Registration: The registration fee covers insurance, registration in the Advanced Baseball League, training for coaches, equipment and field time. The registration fee will be collected once a player is named to a team.

Umpires: Umpires are paid at the plate (usually $40 per game). For the Fall season, umpires should cost $20-$30 per player for the season. In the Spring, the umpires should be about $50 per player. Teams will handle collecting money for paying umpires.

Uniforms: Players will be responsible for buying their uniforms. Uniform prices are TBD.

Q. How are teams chosen?A. A tryout will be held each Fall and Spring season. All players that participate in the tryout willbe evaluated by a panel of 5 individuals, The Evaluation Panel. The Evaluation Panel will namethe team after the tryout is complete.

Q. Can anyone participate in Advanced Baseball?A. To participate in Advanced Baseball you must meet the below criteria for each season:

Fall

Participate in the Fall Recreational Baseball seasonor

If your child is participating in another Fall sport, they can apply for an exemptionfrom playing Fall Recreational Ball.

Each player must commit to playing the Spring recreational baseball season

Spring

Each player in the advanced baseball program is required to participate with arecreational team during the Spring season.

Each player will be strongly encouraged to participate in spring allstars withintheir respective division.

Q. Is there a “must-play” rule in Advanced Baseball?A. No, there is no “must-play” rule in Advanced Baseball.

Q. How will conflicts be prevented with the recreational baseball season?A. The Advanced Baseball program was designed to compliment the recreational baseballprogram. Since most games are on Sundays, there will be no conflict with recreationalleague schedule.